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kitchen breakdown: sources and prices

I promised we’d talk about price and what we did in the kitchen, so here we go!

I loved the open-ness of the kitchen right into the family room. The cabinets were in great shape and had some nice features, they were just orange oak. Painting was the least expensive route. Do you remember how I got some quotes to have a professional paint it? They came in for around $2500, so with our budget right now we decided to DIY.

Now, you could save a lot of money on pulls for your cabinets by purchasing them on Ebay, but I LOVED these and figured since we were painting ourselves, I was totally justified in the hardware…right??

You can read more about the kitchen shelf here with the beadboard wallpaper backing. The containers are from Target, but I scored one at a yard sale. The silver platter was a wedding gift, the plates and crock are also old Target purchases. Total: $22

We kept the laminate counters, because we’re trying to meet some financial goals and new solid surface isn’t in the budget right now. But at least they are nice and neutral.

Neither are hardwood floors…but, someday? I hope. The previous owners put brand, spanking new linoleum in right before we saw the house for the first time. I saw the bill for it on the counter (I ain’t nosy) and they paid $2800. Gulp. Of course I think of what that could have gone towards flooring wise, but can’t really change that now, can I? It’s not bad at all though.

And there you have it.

TOTAL: $2397 for EVERYTHING including the appliances we purchased. It feels like a new kitchen! I love that we would have paid a painter more than that just to paint the cabinets. Awesome.

So…NOW it feels good, now that the work is all over, but I’m not gonna lie, it’s not a fun process.

Thanks, Richella. It is a high quality linoleum (the the texture, etc.) but we have ALOT of it~it extends to the entryway as well. I think that is why it was so expensive. I want to do something with the thresholds (didn't even know that is what they were called~thank you!) I may just stain them or paint them?

AWESOME JOB. I think we're a lot alike in that I really get a rush out of getting a deal, especially a big one. You did an amazing job and I love all the details like the brackets undre cabinets, penny tile in the cabinets, DIY drum shade chandeliers, retro chairs - LOVE LOVE LOVE! Trishwww.mash-upchic.blogspot.com

Melissa your kitchen is gorgeous! I can't wait to paint my kitchen (or have it painted) ... My favorite part is the corbels under the cabinets... I also have 2 corbels that are under my counter top and yes... they are hot glued too and have been there for almost a year... Thanks for the tour!Susan

Love, love, love it! Now, I have a HUGE question: I have been both online and in store at both my Lowe's and Home Depot. I've barely found ANY subway tile in stock, much less .24 cent subway tile. Where/how do you find it? I will look online again because I must be missing something big. Also, are you the blogger that had sheets of sticky stuff that could be used to stick tile to the wall? I'd also love info or a link for that too, if it doesn't take too much of your time. Thank you so much.

Your kitchen looks so wonderful! You did a really great job with such a small budget. The frugal in me is drooling ;o) BTW I think your floor looks very nice...especially since it is something you have to live with. Again, great job!

I just picked up the same corbels in Home Depot today!! I'm going to use them for our island, but now that I've seen them in your kitchen - I'm inspired! Can't wait to get them painted and installed. Thanks so much.

Hi Megan~I didn't because I HAULED them all the way from Texas. Oh, please don't remind my husband about that one. I had perfectly good grout and mastic from projects there and by golly I wasn't just going to leave it! But even if you had to buy the supplies, you would still be under $100, well except for a tile cutter...

I painted the bottom of the trim part because it comes down farther, but you can't see the under, under side of it sitting on the sofa, so NO I didn't. I *think* I hot-glued them to both? I cannot remember, sorry. The HINGES! I knew I forgot something. We spray painted them with brushed nickel. To be honest, I was reading John & Sherry's poston spray painting theirs and they showed the wear, and I went and checked mine and the cabinet we use the very most had the wear on them, but I had never even noticed. We did them in our last home as well and they were great. If any wear would bother you, I would buy new ones. But..they are hinges. and nobody looks at them. I'll try to take a picture for a follow up post!

I know I'm a year late to this party, but I just wanted to say that I love, love, love your kitchen! I have similar plans and really love your cabinet painting tutorial. You make it sound so much less complicated than some of the other tutorials out there. I hope that this time next year I can have a similar kitchen reveal. Thanks for the inspiration!!

Your kitchen looks awesome and has inspired me to paint my own and freshen it up. Not sure if you are looking for a "quick fix" for your counter tops but have you ever heard or "giani" granite paint? It is paint you paint on your counter tops that make it look like marble. Just a thought, not sure what you are looking for but I thought I'd throw that out there. Otherwise IKEA has some great looking wood counter tops as well :)

I love your kitchen! You totally inspired me. I too had a yuck kitchen in the house I bought a year ago and I've been wanting to give it a little makeover. (Not a full facelift yet!) We have creamy/beige floors, creamy/beige cabinets, creamy/beige formica counters and creamy/beige WALLPAPER. (Thankfully the former home-owners left great stainless appliances.) I've been thinking about taking it slow - floor and countertops will have to wait - and just painting the cabinets white and fixing/painting the walls. Problem: I wasn't sure how the countertops would look with the white cabinets but your pics gave me the push I needed. They also helped to convince my husband that I wasn't crazy. But maybe I am crazy because minutes after seeing the pics of your lovely kitchen, I started ripping the wallpaper down and finished it less than an hour later!!! Seriously, I've seen a million pics of great kitchens and nothing inspired me to make it happen like yours did. So, thank you. I have no plan, very little budget, and almost less time so it'll be awhile before I do anything else but at least it's a start! Thanks for the inspiration! (Note: I don't have a home blog but I did take a lot of before pictures that I'll share with you when I'm done. ) Best, Sue

you can do it! when you are in the thick of it and wondering why you read dumb blogs that tell you to paint your cabinets, just remember, it will be worth it. Don't rush through it or take shortcuts...you'll make it!

I know I'm a year late to this party, but I just wanted to say that I love, love, love your kitchen! I have similar plans and really love your cabinet painting tutorial. You make it sound so much less complicated than some of the other tutorials out there. I hope that this time next year I can have a similar kitchen reveal. Thanks for the inspiration!!

Absolutely beautiful! I have a question about your corbels. I just painted my upper cabinets white and hadn't even thought about adding corbels! Do your cabinets have that little lip underneath them where there is about an inch or so that hangs down so the bottom of the upper cabinets are not solid? Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?! If so, did you have to make a notch in the back of your corbels so they would fit? I'm afraid that if I put the corbel up against that lip that you would be able to tell it wasn't installed properly or it would look funny. Never mind that I'll use hot glue too! Enjoy your "new" kitchen!

Your kitchen turned out so lovely. So much of it is in the details. Gotta say my fave is the school house pendant (hey, I work for schools), but I'm sure I'm not alone on that pick. Thanks for sharing the sources.

Love love love all the well thought out details!! My husband and I are endeavoring to put up a similar backsplash this weekend - cross your fingers for us :) Just out of curiosity, did you use regular white grout? We are toying with either an "antique white" or mushroom color... Thanks so much for sharing all your projects!!

Wow, I am in love. The colors, the hanging lantern (I may steal that idea, hope you don't mind), the corbels, the subway tile. Please, please post a tutorial on the tile because I need some motivation. We just painted our oak cabinets white and upgraded to granite. It looks beautiful but somethings still lacking. I think it's the backsplash. I just created a home blog and posted about a buffet makeover. You're one of my favorite google reads and you've inspired me! Thanks so much!

We recently bought a new house and as I consider a corner kitchen sink, the first thing I thought of was yours. I have followed your blog for years and remembered your kitchen reveal from years ago (that means it left quite an impression on this challenged mommy-memory.) Well done and thank you for the inspiration!